Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi will return to Formula 1 this season with Caterham.

The 27-year-old has been confirmed in the minnow outfit alongside GP2 graduate Marcus Ericsson.

The duo replace Dutchman Giedo van der Garde and Frenchman Charles Pic, completing the 2014 grid in the process.

Kobayashi completed three full seasons at Sauber from 2010 before spending last year in the World Endurance Championship driving Ferrari GT machinery.

“It’s a great feeling to be back as an F1 race driver and I’m really pleased it’s with Caterham,” said Kobayashi, who earned a reputation as an aggressive overtaker during his Sauber stint.

“We’ve been talking to Cyril (Abiteboul, team principal) and Tony (Fernandes, team owner) since last year about driving for the team for 2014 and beyond and throughout all our discussions I’ve been very impressed with where they want to take the team, and how much investment has been made already to help them achieve their goals.

“For me, it’s a great honour that the team hired me based on the value I bring in racing terms, and the experience I have…

“I first visited the factory in Leafield just before Christmas and it’s clear how hungry the whole team is to make progress,” he added.

“Last year was a tough season but the new rules this year mean that everyone in F1 is starting again and that means everybody has a chance to improve.”

By contrast to Kobayashi’s experience, Ericsson will join McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat as rookies on the 2014 grid.

“This is a very proud day for me and everyone who has helped make my F1 dream come true,” said Ericsson.

“I’ll be making the step up to F1 with Caterham F1 Team in 2014 and I’m already excited about the season ahead, and the first race in Australia in particular.

“It’s obviously great for Sweden that we’ll have a Swedish driver back on the grid in 2014.

“This is what I’ve been working for since I first started racing karts back when I was nine years old, and now I know I’m ready for the step up to F1.

“Caterham is a young team and together we can take on the challenges the new rules will present in 2014 – learning together and continuing to develop as the season progresses.”

The team has also confirmed that Robin Frijns and Alexander Rossi will be its reserve drivers.

Caterham, which will continue to run Renault engines this season, is yet to score a point since entering Formula 1 in 2010.

See below for the 2014 Formula 1 grid

Red Bull Racing
#1 Sebastian Vettel (Germany)
#3 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia)

Mercedes
#44 Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain)
#6 Nico Rosberg (Germany)

Ferrari
#14 Fernando Alonso (Spain)
#7 Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)

Lotus
#8 Romain Grosjean (France)
#13 Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela)

McLaren
#22 Jenson Button (Great Britain)
#20 Kevin Magnussen (Denmark)

Force India
#27 Nico Hulkenberg (Germany)
#11 Sergio Perez (Mexico)

Sauber
#99 Adrian Sutil (Germany)
#21 Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico)

Toro Rosso
#25 Jean-Eric Vergne (France)
#26 Daniil Kvyat (Russia)

Williams
#19 Felipe Massa (Brazil)
#77 Valtteri Bottas (Finland)

Marussia
#17 Jules Bianchi (France)
#TBA Max Chilton (Great Britain)

Caterham
#TBA Kamui Kobayashi (Japan)
#TBA Marcus Ericsson (Sweden)